Another statistic quoted by the Kings, " 7 out of 8 accidents are pilot error."  The other accidents are mechanically related.  "Only 1 out of 8 accidents, the airplane let down the pilot, the other 7 the pilot let down the airplane.

 

In our homebuilts, my guess is a large percentage of the mechanical failures our the fault of the builder/mechanics lack of knowledge or lack of attention.

 

Maybe that why, when I hear of a Lancair going down, I assume it's not some unforeseen mechanical failure.  I assume it's an error in judgement, either in flight or in maintenance.  If only the people flying these beautiful airplanes were as reliable as the airplanes themselves.

 

Mike